Tyres: More than just black rings of rubber
Picture the scene. It’s Saturday afternoon and you’re in John Lewis looking at TV sets. You’re rather taken by a state-of-the-art 40″ HD television. It’s been getting good reviews and comes highly recommended by the sales assistant. But then, out of the corner of your eye, your attention is grabbed by the sight of an almost identical set. It looks the same, promises the same features and yet it could be yours for £150 less. You’re tempted, right up until the point the assistant tells you that it has a tendency to switch itself off about 15 minutes from the end of your favourite shows. Not worth the £150 saving is it? Read more 
Duncan McVitie remembers the MK1 Ford Fiesta XR2
PetrolBlog has another guest blogger, this time in the shape of Mr Duncan McVitie, a rather apt name given our love of the Hobnob biscuit. Fortunately, Mr McVitie also shares our love of interesting cars, so for his first post he has chosen to write a few words on the Fiesta XR2. Over to you, Duncan…
I was thinking about cool cars the other day, when my uncle’s Fiesta XR2 came to mind. Now, I know the warmed-up version of Ford’s motorised shopping trolley isn’t everyone’s idea of chilled motoring, but hear me out on this one. Read more
FailCar’s guide to car cleaning
FailCar is back on PetrolBlog! But rather than delight us all with pictures of his lovely 205 GTi, he instead turns his attention to his essential car cleaning guide. Based on how brilliantly he prepared the 205, I’d say his lead is well worth following.
I have to start by saying that this is not going to be some uber-anal cleaning guide. There will be no paint depth gauges or sunlamps here. I am by no stretch of the imagination a detailing expert but everything I have done has come from testing, the internet and I did actually go to a detailing day once. But please don’t hold it against me. Read more
Lovely stuff: 1990 Saab 9000i
Strange how things work out. A few weeks ago, the PetrolBlog Fleet consisted of four cars, each one seemingly here for the long term. But with the Land Rover doomed by a literal lack of gas, the S6 reaching the end of its serviceable life and the Accord a victim of my standard ‘six months’ itch, the only member of the ‘fab four’ to remain is the AX GT. And shamefully I’ve just let the MOT expire on that. I’ll soon be writing a few words on the three cars that have departed, but in the meantime it’s time to unveil the next ‘shed’. Bangernomics 2.0 if you like! Read more
An ill-informed history of…the Tripoli Grand Prix
Tom Richards is back on PetrolBlog with one of his ‘ill-informed histories’. The subject matter is a rather fascinating look back at the Tripoli Grand Prix, an event that had its fair share of drama during its all too brief period of fame. Tom ends his piece with a heartfelt plea to a certain Mr Ecclestone to remove the Singapore Grand Prix from the F1 calendar and start talking to the Libyans. Bernie, if you’re listening, listen to the man. Without further ado, I’ll let Tom take over…
As I write this, I am settling down to watch the Singapore Grand Prix, and I’m not entirely sure why. Aside from one particular crash – a well-documented affair involving Nelson Piquet Jr. and a tubby, orange, open-shirted man from Italy – Singapore ends up being little more than a procession, the only overtaking invariably revolving around leapfrog manoeuvres in the pit-lane. Read more
Rover 216: Pass the bucket or bouquet?
Petrolheads have a long and established relationship with the world of television. There can’t be many car lovers who haven’t fancied themselves as Bodie or Doyle behind the wheel of a Capri, or Gene Hunt as he fires up the quattro with ‘Bolly’ by his side. Or perhaps it’s Inspector Morse in his Jag, Michael Knight in KITT or Starsky’s Ford Torino. Admit it, there’s a TV car you’ve always fancied driving. Read more
Minor Details: No.1 Jeep Cherokee number plate
In the first of new series on PetrolBlog, may I introduce you to ‘Minor Details’? I say “new series”, but it’ll probably either die on its feet or slope off into the corner through neglect. But either way, this is a look at the finer details that can make or break a car. The small points that can ruin an otherwise brilliant car. Or conversely, something that can save an otherwise awful car from a lifetime of hatred and ridicule. Read more
Shatchbacks VI: Hatchbacks Under Siege
Can it really be five months since the last Shatchback update? OK, there was an impromptu spotting frenzy in Lisbon back in the summer, but PetrolBlog has been lax in getting more booted horrors on to the hall of fame. So without further ado, I give you Shatchbacks VI: Hatchbacks Under Siege. With grateful thanks to @jeckythump for the inspired title. Read more
Škoda at Frankfurt: MissionL accomplished?
If the rumours coming out of Frankfurt are anything to go by, the MissionL is a glimpse into Škoda’s future. As the company gears up for an ambitious global sales target of 1.5 million cars by 2018, the concept shown in Frankfurt is said to closely resemble that of the new car that will slot in between the Fabia and Octavia. In Škoda’s words, this is a ‘close to production ready concept car’.
PetrolBlog looks at…the Abergwesyn Pass
As tiny hamlets go, Abergwesyn is nothing out of the ordinary. It sits nestled in a delightful part of Mid Wales, with the River Irfon running through it. It’s all rather lovely and remote, but there’s not a lot that sets it apart from other Welsh villages. In fact, you could pass through it on the way through from Llanwrytd Wells to Beulah and not give it a second look. Read more
The Fuego rises from the flames
Back in April 2010, I asked the question, What ever happened to the Renault Fuego? I knew they were endangered, but I had no idea they were on the verge on extinction. But now, thanks to the ever-brilliant How Many Left? website, I know that, aside from the GTS model, the number of different Fuegos left on British roads doesn’t even make double figures. Situation critical for the Fuego then? Read more
L@@K, there’s a PetrolBlog Shed on eBay.
Time with the PetrolBlog Shed is coming to an end. After five months and 6,000 miles of togetherness, the Accord Type-Shed is on the way out and has this very evening been thrown to the mercy of eBay. How much it’ll fetch is anyone’s guess, but with a month left on the MOT and six weeks of tax, I hope it goes for a little more than the £8 starting price. But there’s no guarantee of this as the market for used cars is frankly rubbish at the moment. If your car happens to be a large, petrol-engined banger, than the market is even worse. Read more
Maserati Kubang: as if one ‘Super-SUV’ wasn’t enough…
Fans of tasteless and vulgar cars have never had it so good. Hot on the heels of the Eterniti Haemorrhoid comes the Maserati Kubang. What’s the betting that the same person who demanded the creation of the Eterniti also demanded a Maserati SUV?
I’ll start with a positive and say that the Kubang looks slightly better than the 2003 concept car, but that’s a little like saying that being hit around the head with a baseball bat is a little less painful than being hit with a sledgehammer. Read more
Oh Mr Touran Man, do calm down
Last week I witnessed a minor case of road rage on my way into the office. Sadly road rage is an all too common occurrence on Britain’s roads, with some drivers seemingly leaving any degree of courtesy or good nature at home. Assuming that is, that they have any courtesy in the first place.
But this particular incident has become lodged in my mind, so I’m hoping that by recalling the experience here, I can get shot of it once and for all. Read more
Copy Cat: Peugeot 508 GT HDi 200
The life of a photocopier toner salesman can be a lonely existence. The seemingly endless days spent negotiating Britain’s A-roads and motorways in search of that elusive order. The result is that the hapless salesman will invariably see more of their car than their own home and his children will recognise the postman before they recognise him. But he does have a unique and unrivalled knowledge of the road. He’ll be on first name terms with the waitresses in the Little Chef and he’ll have his own named parking space outside the Travelodge at Toddington Services. The photocopier toner salesman isn’t the king of the road, he is the road. Read more
Eterniti Hemera: So who asked for a ‘Super-SUV’?
Come on, own up. Who asked for a ‘Super-SUV’?
Who in their right mind woke up one morning and decided that what the world needs most right now is a ‘Super-SUV’?
Well whoever you are, please proceed to the corner of the room, bow your head in shame and promise never to open your mouth again. Because, my friend, the result is the Eterniti Hemera. Read more
Bangerwatch: Fiat Uno Turbo i.e
In the market for an ’80s hot hatch, but would prefer something different to the ubiquitous Golf GTi or 205 GTi? Well, if you’re feeling brave, you might be tempted by this little Italian rocket found in the classifieds. Signore e signori, I give you the Fiat Uno Turbo i.e. Admit it, you weren’t expecting one of these to be for sale today, were you? Read more
